Recognizing a problem is one thing, but if no one takes action to correct it, the problem remains. MSU has seen enrollment numbers go up among minority students, but retention numbers are still decreasing.
Since the university can only do so much to keep students here, it is up to a small group of students to accomplish that task.
The African American Student Mentoring Program is a small steppingstone in making sure diversity is evident not only on campus but in Breslin Center during commencement.
Black student enrollment has increased by 4 percent, yet the retention rate is 44.7 percent - the lowest among all minorities.
The university provides several outlets for all students to enjoy their time here, but it sometimes isn't specialized enough to provide for the growing minority student body.
For example, resident mentors can help their students with any problem, but each mentor has about 30 students.
Racial Ethnic Student Aides can also be helpful, but not when only a few aides have to accommodate a large number of minority students per dorm.
Clarence Carson recognized this problem and presented a plan of action to his then-racial ethnic student aide, Jeff Brentley.
Together, they have formed the program which can hopefully increase the retention rate among black students.
It places black freshmen one-on-one with black upperclassmen.
The upperclassmen have been in their shoes before and they are qualified to guide the students to an enjoyable college experience.
They can help erase stereotypes that these students come to the university with, which can better relationships on campus.
Another ideal aspect of this program is that the students have mentors who they know they can communicate with, because the mentors are students themselves.
They know about tuition costs and dorm life, and they won't have to try to identify with someone who's out of college and can't remember what cafeteria food tastes like.
The program is one of a kind in a sea of clubs and organizations geared toward minority students.
While many try to improve student life with social functions, community service and educational forums, the mentoring program focuses on a specific goal.
Other campus groups, whether based on skin color or not, can learn a thing or two from the mentoring program.
If there's a group struggling to succeed on campus, there needs to be a leader in that community willing to step up and rectify the problem.
The mentoring program will be funded by the university for five years.
If the program proves to be effective in retaining students, officials should continue to support these mentors with financial backing and work on creating more programs like it.
Diversity on campus can't just come from enrollment numbers. Anything that helps foster diversity through commencement and eventually into the outside world is not optional, it's necessary.
